Influence Of Parenting Styles On Bullying Behaviour Of In-School Adolescents In Ilorin Metropolis

Bullying at school is a serious issue for a long time. The relationship between parents and children possesses certain characteristics that explain permanent impact of one upon the other. This study investigated influence of parenting styles on bullying behaviour of in-school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis.
The study was a survey research. The population of this study comprised all in-school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis while 300 respondents were used as sample size in the study. A questionnaire titled “Influence of Parenting Styles on Bullying Behaviour Questionnaire” (IPSBBQ) was used as an instrument to collect data needed for the study. The variables taken into consideration were gender, age, religion and class. Mean and rank order analysis were used to answer the main research questions while the nine null hypotheses formulated were tested using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) statistical techniques.
The findings of the study revealed that parents do set limits for me in terms of behaviours; interact with me very well; and expect me to follow rules and regulations they set out. The findings also revealed that in-school adolescents do not engaged in bullying behaviours in the sense that, in the last 6 weeks, respondents were not beaten up by someone stronger than they are; subjected to punishment by someone stronger than they are; threaten by someone stronger than they are. It was also found that there significant relationship existed between parenting styles and bullying behaviour of in-school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis. Also, there was significant relationship in the parenting styles and bullying behaviour of in-school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis based on age, gender, religion and in-school adolescents from senior school but no significant relationship was found between the parenting styles and bullying behaviour of in-school adolescents from junior school.
Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that parents are here by encouraged to improve on their relationship with their adolescents and choose the right parenting style that will help the adolescents to behave socially among his peer group and perform well in the academic aspects. The counsellors in educational system should make efforts in ensuring that in- school adolescents’ unwanted behaviours are modified through behavioural modification process. The government should as a matter of urgency map out programmes that will improve the standard of living of in- school adolescents’ parents so that they can properly cater for their children.